US postage Hindu Stamps
Washington, US (CHAKRA) – Famous cartoon characters such as Calvin and Hobbes and Archie are what we think of in reference to unique postage stamps. Hindu Gods, have now made their way into the US postal department as well.
United States Postal Services (USPS), is known for its line of stamps featuring cartoon characters branded as ‘Sunny Funnies’. Similarly, an Atlanta-based company, usa-postage.com led by an Indian-American has introduced depictions of Hindu Gods and Goddesses on postage stamps. The company has launched the first series of these custom-made postage stamps in denominations of 44 cents, featuring Lakshmi, Murugan, Sai Baba, Shiva-Parvathi, Sri Krishna, Lord Venkateshwara, and Vinayaka in January 2010.
“These postages have not been issued by the US Postal Service, but these are as good as stamps and is legally valid. We do not call them stamps. We call them as postages. But these can be used as any other normal stamp,” said spokesperson of USPS, Roy Betts, in a news agency report. This is the first time Hindu Gods and Goddesses have been depicted on postage stamps in America.
“Customised postage sheets are ideal for giving as gift items. Indian community living in the US can order online as a gift item,” said Ennar Chilakapati, vice president, usa-postage.com. To launch the series, usa-postage.com made use of a six-year-old law of the USPS, permitting the issuance of customized postages.
The Indian community living in the US is the target of such divine postage stamps, to whom such images will have a specific appeal. In fact, the launching company has already seen a lot of support from the 1.5 million-strong community of American Indians. Numerous requests from Britain have also proven a demand for these celestial stamps.
By Arun Shanghvi
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